Helpful Score: 7
I am always amazed when reading a memoir such as Mary Karr's The Liars' Club. I had to remind myself, several times, that this was not a work of fiction as she recounted a litany of abuse and neglect that astounded. Karr is a strong writer, and though the subject matter could have dragged one down, she told her story with wit and wisdom and actually had me laughing at times! Highly recommended!!
Helpful Score: 6
Gripping memoir of a girl growing up in the south during the 60's & 70's. It is at times really touching and at other very funny. If you grew up in the south, the people and places described will remind you of ones you knew. They did for me. The descriptions and the language are so perfect. I really enjoyed this one and plan on ordering the follow up.
Helpful Score: 5
I liked it, but did not love it. I have read other similar memoirs that I liked better. That being said, the book kept my interest. It was a dark story, but had a good message about a family's closeness enduring thorough troubled times.
Helpful Score: 3
I liked this book, although I wouldn't rank it as one of the best memoirs I have read lately. It was disturbing on some levels, but not so much so that I couldn't get through it. It was also comforting in an odd way. The members of the Karr family are obviously very close, and that is always a good thing in my book. I can't say that I can relate to having my father beat a man to a bloody pulp for disrespecting me or my mother.
Helpful Score: 3
Mary's family was complicated by parental drinking, mental illness, a dying grandmother, and a long ago secret that festered into guilt.
